Columbus Day Tradition Kept Alive

Nephew Of City's Columbus Takes Over For His Late Uncle

October 14, 2002|By PETER MARTEKA; Courant Staff Writer

As Vincent Mancarella, dressed as Christopher Columbus, marched and waved to the crowd along Franklin Avenue, he recalled the days he watched his Uncle Santo do the same at Hartford's annual Columbus Day parade.

Santo Mancarella had portrayed the explorer for the past 23 years in the parade and other events before dying of lung cancer in July. The parade Sunday was dedicated to the 53-year-old known as ``Hartford's Columbus.''

``I was the one in costume, but he was the one here in spirit,'' Vincent Mancarella, 32, said after the parade. Mancarella grew up in Vernon, but now lives in New York City. ``He was alive in everyone's memory. He had always wanted me to continue this tradition, and I'll try my best to get up here each year.''

Hundreds of city and area residents were drawn to that annual tradition known as the Italian American Columbus Day Celebration in the city's South End. After a short Mass in front of the Columbus Park monument, the parade stepped off from Maple Avenue.

The drizzle and rain appeared to keep the crowds down, but as soon as the parade began and proceeded south along Franklin Avenue to Columbus Park, people came out from their cars, from stores and Italian clubs and from under awnings and bus stops to line the parade route. Organizers said it was one of the best-attended parades.

This year's parade included three musical groups from Italy, including L'Eco Del Gargano from San Giovanni Rotondo Foggia in Apulia, Corpo Bandistico Municipale from Canicattini Bagni in Sicily, and the Bersaglieri Band from Sardinia.

Participants included Hartford's All-City Band and the New Britain High School Band, the Wolcott Drill Team, the Young Italian American Women's Auxiliary from Hartford, Boy Scout Troop 105, the Italian Club from Central Connecticut State University, the St. Lucy Society from Sicily, and members of Hartford's police and fire departments.

Members of the Bersaglieri Band impressed the crowd with their animated marching, which included stopping for about 30 seconds while the parade continued and then sprinting down to catch up while playing their instruments.

``It brings a part of Italy here to Hartford,'' said Anthony Pitrullo of Bloomfield, who watched the marchers perform. ``I think our heritage is something important to celebrate and for our children to learn and know about.

That celebration of Italian heritage is what the weekend celebration is all about, according to Riccardo Ambrogio, the Italian vice consulate for the state.

``It's not often people can come out and share their heritage,'' Ambrogio said after the parade. ``This is a holiday special to the United States. Like Christopher Columbus, sometimes you have to leave Italy to do something good. And we [Italian Americans] are doing good things in our community, our state and our nation each day.''

The parade was in danger of being canceled because of changes in city policy over the cost of police protection, utility use and cleanup expenses charged during public events. The parade, which usually takes place on Saturday, was rescheduled to Sunday and the committee had to raise $14,000 instead of the usual $7,000.

``The police allowed us to call it a procession instead of a parade and we were able to save a lot of money,'' Alphonse Marotta, chairman of the parade committee, said. ``But our sponsors really came through for us. I just wish the weather did, too.''